Sami Salo

Did You Know?

• Salo has a wife, Johanna, and three children: Peppi, Oliver and Julia.
• Growing up in Turku, Finland, he idolized Jari Kurri and aspired to play with the Finnish national team rather than the NHL.
• He spent time coaching his only son, Oliver, on his hockey team.

Playing career

Salo began his professional career with TPS of the SM-liiga in 1994–95, recording a goal and two assists in seven games. The following season, he posted a Finnish career-high 14 assists and 21 points over 47 games. He was drafted by the Ottawa Senators 239th overall in the ninth round of the 1996 NHL entry draft and remained in Finland for two more seasons, improving from seven goals to nine in 1996–97. In his lone season with Jokerit, he tallied three goals and eight points in 35 games.

After signing with the Senators in July 1998, he played three games before being assigned to the Detroit Vipers of the IHL due to injury. Recalled on 18 November 1998, he scored his first NHL goal, a game-winner against Boston Bruins goaltender Byron Dafoe, on 21 January 1999. He finished the 1998–99 season with seven goals and 19 points and was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team. The following season, he notched a hat trick against the Pittsburgh Penguins on 30 March 1999 but was limited to 37 games and 14 points due to injury.

In 2000, he missed two games after suffering a snakebite. In 2000–01, he dealt with shoulder, foot and knee injuries, the flu, and a cross-check to the face from Rick Tocchet that broke his teeth and caused a mild concussion, finishing with 18 points in 31 games. Before the 2001–02 season, he injured his groin in an exhibition game and missed the first three games, later sitting out 13 more contests due to the flu, a broken finger and back spasms, recording 18 points in 66 games.

After undergoing shoulder surgery in the off-season, he accepted an $880,000 qualifying offer from the Senators on 31 July 2002 and was traded to the Vancouver Canucks for Peter Schaefer on 21 September.

International play

Salo made his international debut at the 2001 World Championships in Germany, recording an international career-high nine points in nine games, second among tournament defencemen to Finnish teammate Petteri Nummelin. Finland lost the gold medal game 3–2 to the Czech Republic, earning silver. He was selected to the Finnish national team for the 2002 Winter Olympics on 13 December 2001, appearing in four games without a point as Finland lost 2–1 to Canada in the quarterfinal.

At the 2004 World Championships, he recorded three assists in seven games; Finland lost their quarterfinal to Canada 5–4 in overtime. At the 2004 World Cup, he notched three assists in seven games as Finland reached the final but lost 3–2 to Canada. At the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, he recorded four points in six games before suffering a tournament-ending shoulder injury in a collision with teammate Ville Peltonen during a line change. Finland won the silver medal in a 3–2 loss to Sweden.

At the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, he recorded two points in six games, leading all Finnish players in ice time, and scored the opening goal in the bronze-medal game against Slovakia in a 5–3 win. At the 2014 Winter Olympics, his fourth and last Olympic tournament, Finland won the bronze medal and Salo recorded one point in six games; in the bronze-medal game, he became the last player to play without a visor at the Olympics.

Playing style

Salo was a versatile defenseman who could shut down star forwards and chip in on offense. His biggest weapon was a booming slapshot, which won him multiple Canucks hardest shot competitions, including a 102.7 mph blast in 2012. That shot made him a go-to option on the power play, while his all-around game also earned him penalty-killing duties.

Transactions

Drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the 9th round, 239th overall, in the 1996 NHL entry draft. Signed a one-year, $880,000 qualifying offer from the Senators on 31 July 2002. Traded to the Vancouver Canucks for Peter Schaefer on 21 September 2002. Re-signed to a two-year, $3.2 million contract with the Canucks on 17 July 2003. Signed a one-year contract with Frölunda HC on 15 September 2004. Re-signed to a two-year contract with the Canucks on 14 August 2005. Signed a four-year, $14-million contract extension with the Canucks on 29 March 2007. Re-signed with the Canucks to a one-year, $2 million contract on 1 July 2011. Signed a 2-year, $7.5 million contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning on 1 July 2012.